Mambukal Mountain Resort

A trip to the Province of Negros Occidental wouldn't be complete without visiting the long-famous Mambukal Mountain Resort. Since I was a kid, Mambukal (Mambucal) has been first on the list for the vacation getaway place for the family. Mambukal Mountain Resort belongs to the Municipality of Murcia and is located on the eastern side of Negros Occidental and 45 minutes travel from Bacolod City. It is being managed by the provincial government for it to be regularly maintained. The roads going to the resort are good so the journey is very comfortable and convenient.

Arriving Mambukal Resort, the Entrance Fee for adults is PHP 50, and for kids, you can negotiate or do your "tawad" moves (bargaining) so it will be free of charge. Day Cottages' costs start from PHP 300 to PHP 1,000 depending upon the size and location of the cottage.

Campuestohan Highland Resort, aside from being truly the perfect getaway for those who enjoy the cool atmosphere of nature, is also a gourmet haven for food connoisseurs.

Situated in the center of the two progressive cities in Negros Occidental, Talisay City in the north and Bacolod City in the south. This haven is now one of the most popular tourist destination in Negros Occidental. It is a 5 hectare property of Mr and Mrs. Ricardo Tan. Campuestohan is 800 meters above sea level that will give you a scenic beauty and majestic panorama of almost half of Negros Occidental, even that of Panay Island from afar.

Entrance Fee.................................................. PHP 150.00 / Per Person *free use of swimming pool and playground Big Cottage ................................................... PHP 1000.00 (good for 20 persons) Small Cottage ................................................ PHP 600.00 (good for 12 - 15 persons) Umbrella Hut ................................................. PHP 500.00 (good for 10 persons) Canopy Tent .................................................. PHP 400.00 (good for 6-8 persons) OVERNIGHT Bonita Hut ..................................................... PHP 2,500.00 (good for 4 persons) *free entrance for 4 person Log Cabin Room 1 and 2 .............................. PHP 4,000.00 (good for 4 persons) *free entrance and breakfast for 4 persons Log Cabin Room 3 and 4 .............................. PHP 5,000.00 (good for 5 persons)

This is why it is not surprising if the dishes served at Campuestohan Highland Resort are truly exceptional in taste and quality.

Lake Balinsasayao in Sibulan Negros Oriental

Lake Balinsasayao is located in the western part of Sibulan Negros Oriental. It is approximately 8 kilometers from Sibulan port. If you are looking for a perfect place for relaxation in Negros, then the Lake Balinsasayao is the place. This became the habitat of the Balinsasayao bird which is distinguishable with its blue color feather. Things you can do in Lake Balinsasayao includes, kayaking, swimming, trekking, fishing, fish spa and many more. When we reached the place, all we can see is just one lake. So we are looking for the twin. We learned that the other lake which is called Lake Danao is located on the other side of the mountain. There is two option to get there, its either you do the trekking or rent a paddle boat for 250 for one hour. Of course, we chose the latter. We do not want to do the trek since the trail looks too tough for us. Kayak is also available and the rate is 100 per hour.

The Lake Danao is much smaller than the Lake Balinsasayao; however, according to the Manong whom we rented the boat, the lake is 200 feet deep. This is not a perfect place for non-swimmer but life jackets are available. A viewing deck is built between the two lakes.

Bais City dolphin watching and sand bar in Manjuyod

This pristine 7 kilometer stretch of premium white sand can be accessed via a short 15 minute boat ride from Capiñahan Wharf in the South Bais Bay, Bais City Negros Oriental. It is basically an island towards the North Bais Bay in the Tañon Strait that emerges only during low tides. Though technically belonging to the jurisdiction of the neighboring Manjuyod town, the sand bar is closely associated to Bais City because of its proximity and popularity in the Bais area. It is also a major stopover during dolphin and whale watching group tours organized by the Bais City Tourism Council. The boat is temporarily anchored so that the guests can picnic, swim, sunbathe, and laze around, snorkel or scuba dive in the waters surrounding the sand bar. The Manjuyod Sand Bar is an estimated 600 hectare total strip area, including the submerged portions. Also known as the Sumapao Shoal, it is a certified tourist attraction because of its unique characteristic. It has been said that among the tourist spots in the vicinity, this one has the most potential. When planning to visit the Manjuyod White Sand Bar, it is advisable to book in advance for a boat to take you there.

Boat rate is P2,500 for a group of 15 and P3,000 for a group of 20. This is already basically for an entire day of use. he cost for renting the boat for the whole day is Php4,000 for 20 persons (Dolphin 1), and Php3,000 for the smaller boat (Dolphin II) that can accommodate 15 persons. here are smaller private bancas for hire at about Php2,000 that are good for 1-4 persons in the area. Dolphin & whale watching is ideal between the months of May and September, when the waters are calmer and the winds are not too strong, thus allowing them to play in the waters and be seen by tourists.

Happy Valley Beach

A view of the southernmost portion of Happy Valley Beach. Don Joaquin Bilbao’s beach house (aqua-colored roof) seen in the distance.Hinoba-an is where you can find the biggest catch of tuna and blue marlin in the province making it the tuna capital of Negros Occidental.The Sulu Sea provided Hinoba-an with a rich marine life, it’s coral reefs teeming with fishes that serves as the main source of livelihood for the people and as a main tourist attraction. The occasional appearance of dolphins and whales are also proof of the rich marine resources of the Hinoba-an.The calm blue waters of Hinoba-an along a lengthy expanse of beaches amid coconut trees provide a perfect setting for relaxation and unwinding.

Happy Valley Resort is a cozy place with a large space for tourists and guests. It has an atmosphere where one can really unwind and rest. The resort is best for family or friends who want to take a break from long day's work. It is also best for honeymooners because the place can be a romantic place for its quiet, solemn and calm ambiance. The rooms are affordable with prices ranging from P1, 000 per room with a bathroom and the whole house at P6, 000 with four beds and four bathrooms. The designs are sub-urban with a veranda outside each room. Also there is the appealing two-storey orange house which is best for family or group of friends who would want to be together in one big house. It can certainly be best to serve as honeymooner's nest.

Lakawon Island Resort of Cadiz City Negros

Lakawon Island Resort is a 13-hectare, banana-shaped island off the coast of Cadiz City in the northern portion of Negros Occidental, a province in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines. A white sand beach resort on the island, a family-run business, is a popular destination for both local and foreign tourists. The private owned island boasts of white-sand beach and shallow waters where visitors can laze and hang-out under nipa-hut or swim into the sea. The name Lakawon was from the cebuano word “lakaw” which means “to walk” because one can actually walk on shallow waters during low-tide. The island resor is popular among local tourists because of its proximity to Bacolod but not as popular compared to other beaches in the country. Nipa huts and cottages can be rented for an overnight stay. Other activities in the island include kayaking, banana boat ride and beach volleyball. The port of Cadiz Viejo where one can get a boat going to Lakawon Island Resort. Roundtrip boat fare is at P600 (minimum rate) good for 4 passengers. Boats can ferry a maximum of 12 pax with an additional fare of P150 per pax. I'm just glad they built this port, you can't imagine what you have to go through when there was no port during low tide and choppy waters.

Day cottages at P500 to P1000 Overnight cottages with aircon good for 4 pax is at Php2,500. Good for 8 pax is Php3,000. The non-aircon cottage. Overnight rental fee good for 4 pax is Php1,500. Cottage can accommodate a maximum of eight (8) pax. Overnight rental fee is Php1,800.

The village charges P20 per person as port entrance fee. If you brought your own transport service, parking fee is P35 paid to the owner of the land where cars can park. /body>

Himoga-an River Cruise

In a time where polluted rivers are the norm, this one's truly a breath of fresh air.The Himoga-an River is located at Brgy. Puey, Sagay City, Negros Occidental. "Himoga-an" is derived from the local words “himoga” or “puga,” which means to wring-wash clothes along the riverbanks.The newest tourism activity in Sagay City, the cruise is a two-hour boat trip from Brgy. Fabrica wharf plying through the city’s longest river, Himoga-an and ends at Brgy. Old Sagay. There are interesting and delightful sceneries along the way like the carabao island, migratory birds frolickin on the mangroves.In a time where polluted rivers are the norm, this one's truly a breath of fresh air.